At one of Nairobi's leading petrol stations in Imara Daima, a lone rider set off on a journey unlike any other. His name is Mustapha Konvict, and his mission is to ride 15,600 kilometres across nine African countries to spread one message: One People, One Africa.
His dream is simple but bold: a borderless Africa where people move freely without barriers.
Nine days ago, the Kenyan biker mounted his BMW R1200GS and began a road trip that will carry him through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana. For him, every kilometre is a rallying cry for unity and a reminder that Africa’s future lies in breaking down the walls that divide her people.
The official flag-off in Nairobi drew an overwhelming show of solidarity, with more than 500 GS riders riding alongside Mustapha up to the Namanga border in Tanzania. Out of these, 12 bikers made the long ride from Mombasa to Nairobi just to support him at the launch, demonstrating the powerful bond within the biking community.
“They rode 500 kilometres just to stand with me. Who does that? These men stopped everything to cheer me on, to escort me all the way to Arusha,” Mustapha said emotionally. “Biking is more than just a ride. It is love, it is support, it is life. Distance means nothing for bikers. They will show up anywhere.”
That spirit of unity has continued to follow him on the road. In every country, bikers have joined his convoy, amplifying his call for a borderless Africa. From Arusha to Lusaka, and from Harare to Polokwane, the community has rallied behind his cause.
In Zambia, he was struck by the courtesy of motorists, where, unlike in Kenya, he explained, truck drivers often gave way to bikers despite the poor state of the roads.
But the road has not always been kind. On Day 8, Mustapha faced one of his toughest stretches yet, a 650-kilometre ride from Chivhu in Zimbabwe to Polokwane in South Africa. Almost 40 per cent of the road was under construction, forcing him onto punishing off-road tracks.
“At one point, I thought I was smart, taking a smooth stretch, only to find a huge sign saying ‘Road Closed’. I had to turn back. It was brutal,” he recalled with a laugh. But he pressed on, pausing only for a quick snack and a short rest before continuing toward the border.
At the Zimbabwe-South Africa crossing, his exhaustion gave way to amazement. He was cleared in just five minutes thanks to a fully digitalised system on the Zimbabwean side, complete with QR codes and clear instructions.
“This is the future of African borders,” he said. “Smooth, smart, stress-free. I hope other borders, like Nakonde in Zambia, take notes.”
The welcome in South Africa was equally memorable for him, with the One People Africa, the very group he is riding for, receiving him warmly with cars and riders. Together with Uni Riders MCC National, they escorted him on the final leg to Polokwane, where the day ended in storytelling and celebration.
From there, his journey presses on to Eswatini, where yet another community of bikers is waiting. With every mile, his voice grows louder: Africa must unite, and the borders that separate her people must fall. “The mission to make Africa visa-free is stronger than ever,” he said. “We will win this.”
Riding his trusted BMW R1200GS, a machine built for endurance with its powerful 1,170 cc boxer-twin engine, upright design, and rugged off-road capability, Mustapha embodies the spirit of adventure and determination.
